David – 17 Sept 2008

Carl’s chapter on David led me to read his story in the Bible again and in other accounts. The following is inspired from one of those.

When we are feeling down in the dumps, just discouraged, or worse, without hope, it is great to have a friend or relative come to us and say or do something to give us encouragement again. But what do we do when such help is not available?

In the Old Testament David was once in such a situation. The story is in 1 Samuel chapters 27, 29 and 30.

Fleeing for his life from King Saul, David offered his services and that of his 600 men to King Achish, a Philistine.  Accepting the offer the king gave David and his followers the city of Ziklag for their home.  One day the king took his army to join a combined Philistine attack on Israel and, surprisingly, David and his men went with him.  But the king’s allies did not trust David and his men, and they were sent back to Ziklag. On their return they found that the Amalekites had attacked in their absence, burned the city and taken all their people captive.  David and his men

“wept aloud until they had no more strength to weep.” 1 Samuel 30:4 [NIV]

Worse than that, David’s men turned on him, blaming him for the situation and even discussing stoning him.  So David had lost his family, all he possessed, his men had turned against him and his state of distress was such that his whole career could have ended there.  He could have given up, panicked, or done something stupid, perhaps writing himself out of history at that point.

However, now comes one of the great “buts” of the Bible.

“But David found strength in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6 [NIV]

How did he do this? He would have prayed, of course, and that is important.  But he must have done more.  He probably recalled what he knew of God, thought of all he had learned as a shepherd boy and through his young life from the Lord, and applied it to the situation.  He reminded himself that God is Sovereign.  He is faithful, loving, merciful, forgiving and all-powerful.  With such encouragement to David’s heart he sought and found the guidance to restore the position completely (see 1 Samuel 30).

We need to remember that as Christians we have all the encouragement we require in our Lord God and our saviour Jesus Christ.  Let us continue to encourage one another in our faith and pray that we may find those opportunities to encourage others to seek the Lord.

Jim Finch